Why Choose A Bread Machine Over A Stand Mixer?

If you consider that a KitchenAid stand mixer retails for about a $100 more than a Zojirushi BB-PAC20 bread machine that will not only knead the dough but wait for it to ferment, shape it, and bake it, then the bread machine sounds like the perfect option for the home baker.

However, even though some people choose a bread machine over a stand mixer, there are others who still prefer to buy a stand mixer over a bread machine. So which one should you choose? Well, you’ll have to ask yourself that question as you weigh the pros and cons.

The advantages of a bread machine are convenience and time saved. It almost takes no effort to bake bread and for busy people, this is the obvious choice. You may also enjoy using the bread machine because it gives you some form of control. Many people complain that the bread machine kills creativity because everything is programmed for you. However, if you buy a quality machine like the Zojirushi BB-PAC20, you are able to set the time of fermentation, kneading, and baking. You still have to control the time and the ingredients you add. So it’s wrong to think that using the bread machine kills all form of creativity in the kitchen because you can still experiment with different ingredients and timing.

That said, the stand mixer offers you the opportunity to actually smell, feel and see the ingredients up close. And some people enjoy baking because they can physically interact with their food. It actually feels like they’re making it themselves. A stand mixer may offer 10 different kneading speeds unlike the bread machine. And once your mixer helps you incorporate the ingredients you can knead your dough by hand.

So it all comes down to individual preferences. Some people like to read paper books and some people like to read electronic books. It’s the same when it comes to stand mixers and bread machines.